Reprography machine controlled by information on master

ABSTRACT

Automatic control of reproduction and sorting of reproduced copies is accomplished in a printing or duplicating machine, a reprography machine, of the type which utilizes masters or originals from which copies are made and which has a hopper, magazine, bunker or chamber for masters, with provision for feeding them in succession to a cylinder associated with inking, duplicating and cleaning mechanisms. Masters are employed which are formed with indicia or coded markings along one or two edges which provide signals for causing a desired number of copies of each successive master to be produced and for sorting the produced copies in a desired manner, for example according to the number of copies to be sent to each of a plurality of different destinations. A scanner is provided for examining the code marks to produce signals, and circuits responsive thereto serve to actuate parts of the duplicating machine. A digital memory device is utilized to store information supplied by the code of one master while reproduction from a previous master is going on.

United States Patent Burger et al.

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] REPROGRAPHY MACHINE CONTROLLED BY INFORMATION ONMASTER [72] Inventors: Jack E. Burger, Moreland Hills; Fritz A.

Deutsch; Warren B. Howe; William Kyle, all of Euclid, Ohio [73]Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph, Cleveland,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 5,035

[52] US. Cl ..101/45, 101/2, 235/61.7,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B4ll 9/00, 606k 17/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..101/132.5,91,144, 369, 247,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,756,672 7/1956 George..101/144 2,953,087 9/1960 Ritzerfeld.... ..101/132.5

3,013,486 12/1961 Ritzerfeld.... ..101/132.5

3,147,696 9/1964 Smith et a1... ....10l/79 3,349,700 10/1967 Schottle..101/369 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Attorney-Russell L. Root andRay S. Pyle Automatic control of reproduction and sorting of reproducedcopies is accomplished in a printing or duplicating machine, areprography machine, of the type which utilizes masters or originalsfrom which copies are made and which has a hopper, magazine, bunker orchamber for masters, with provision for feeding them in succession to acylinder associated with inking, duplicating and cleaning mechanisms.Masters are employed which are formed with indicia or coded markingsalong one or two edges which provide signals for causing a desirednumber. of copies of each successive master to be produced and forsorting the produced copies in a desired manner, for example accordingto the number of copies to be sent to each of a plurality of difi'erentdestinations. A scanner is provided for examining the code marks toproduce signals, and circuits responsive thereto serve to actuate partsof the duplicating machine. A digital memory device is utilized to storeinformation supplied by the code of one master while reproduction from aprevious master is going on.

ABSTRACT PAIENTEBMAR21 I972 SHEET 1 0F 9 lt k JACKE: BZRGER FRITZ/I.DEZ/TSCH WAR/PEN B. HOWE W/LL/A/V KYLE lNVEN TURS AT TURNE Y PATENTEDMAR 21 I972 SHEET 3 OF 9 PATENTEDHARZI I972 SHEET 8 OF 9 REPROGRAPHYMACHINE CONTROLLED BY INFORMATION ON MASTER PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION Anobject of the invention is to make it unnecessary in reprography for theoperator to stop the machine after the number of copies desired for anymaster has been run and to reset the machine for the number of copiesdesired for the next master. It is thus an object of the invention toobviate the need for manually set counters and to provide countingmechanism which is wholly responsive to the encoded master.

Another object of the invention is to provide for automatic distributionof the copies with any desired number of copies distributed to each ofthe plurality of different destinations.

Other and further objects, advantages and features will become apparentas the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred formthereof in conjunction with a printing or duplicating machine such as aMultilith 2750 manufactured by Addressograph Multigraph Corporation,masters are employed similar to those ordinarily used with such machinesexcept for the fact that the master is formed with a code along at leastone edge, preferably two adjacent edges which contain instructions as tothe number of copies to be made from each master and the manner in whichthe copies are to be distributed. A computer apparatus is providedresponsive to the code for carrying out the instructions.

A scanner is provided with a carriage so constructed that the scannerwill move along either the side or the end of the master and receive thecoded instructions. In one embodiment of the invention, the master isprovided also with a set of clock marks along the instruction code marksfor synchronizing the computer. In another embodiment of the invention,the clock signals are produced in response to rotation of the shaft ofthe carriage for the scanner.

A memory or storage device is provided for storing the instructionsreceived from one master in order that the instructions provided fromthe previous master may be carried out by the machine while a new set ofinstructions is being obtained by the scanning of the next master. Asubtracting counter is provided for response to the storage informationwhich saturates when the desired number of copies has been produced andstops a paper feeder. When the invention is employed with a type ofduplicator such as Multilith 2750 there is a magazine for masters.

Bistable circuits are employed for the clock and paper counters.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the encoding on themasters is in the form of black marks which may be read by a scanner orreader provided with a lamp and photoresponsive detectors. The inventionis not limited thereto, however, and does not exclude the use of othertypes of encoding and sensing means such as magnetic markings andmagnetic responsive scanner equipment, or punched holes with scanningequipment responsive thereto or any other indicia which provides controldata and which can be read. By reading is meant not merely traversingthe indicia with a scanner, or moving the master with its indicia withrespect to a reading head or scanner, but also utilizing a bank ofpickup devices such as photoelectric cells to view separate parts of theindicia simultaneously for reading information in parallel as arrayed onthe master. The invention relates to any type of machine which makescopies of some original, a process generally referred to as reprography.Although specially prepared masters may be employed in reprography theinvention is not limited thereto. The invention encompasses a procedurewhereby the item inserted into the machine for copying is not such aprinting master but is merely an original document carrying theappropriate control data, referred to herein as indicia. This document,upon being fed into the machine has its control data read, and thenproceeds to have some sort of copies made from it either by directrepetitive photography, or by first making a special master by some sortof photographic process and then printing copies from the specialmaster. The term master as employed herein when used in its broadestsense, is intended to include such an original document with indiciamarked thereon carrying control data as well as specially preparedduplicating masters.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by thefollowing detailed description considered in conjunction with theaccompanying in which:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a printing apparatus in which the scanningapparatus and computer circuits of FIGS. 4-7, 9-12, and 14-16 areemployed in conjunction with coded masters; I

FIG. 2 is a view of a master employed in carrying out the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a coded master similar to that shown in FIG. 2,but in which clock marks as well as control data information are coded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scanner carriage and mountingtherefor arranged for scanning marks on the side of the master in thehopper;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding somewhat to FIG. 4 with thescanning head turned for scanning marks on the end of the master, andillustrating further how the scanning carriage and its mounting arerelated to the master hopper and its supporting structure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the system employed for automatic controlof a duplicator function such as the copy paper feed;

FIG. 6a is a detail diagram of a magnetic pulse generator which mayserve as an alternate source of clock signals;

FIG. 7 is a logic diagram of two subtracting binary paper countersemployed in carrying out the invention;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the type of bistable circuit illustrativeof the clock counter but due to space limitations, showing 4 binarystages instead of 6;

FIG. 8a is a logic diagram indicating the functions performed by thecounter circuit of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a logic diagram of the binary scanning apparatus and clockingdevice in which the clocking impulses are produced by rotation of thescanner carriage shaft utilizing magnetic pulses produced by magnetic ormagnetizable material mounted on the shaft;

FIG. 10 is a logic diagram corresponding somewhat to FIG. 9, but showingan embodiment of the invention in which there are clock marks on themaster and a clock mark scanner is employed;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus employed for controllingthe scanning;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of the data pickup scanning device andamplifier;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the feeder control relay and amplifierdriver;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the clock pulse amplifier responsive torotation of the scanner drive shaft;

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram of the clock inhibitor employed in thecomputer apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a logic diagram of the binary storage device for use inconjunction with the apparatus, and

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective diagram of one form of apparatus forimaging and encoding the masters.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing todesignate like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A typical automatic printer or duplicator inconnection with which the invention may be employed is illustrated inFIG. 1 which comprises certain conventional elements not constituting apart of the present invention, namely structure 11 carrying a magazineor hopper 12 for master plates, adapted to rest in a stack 13, means 14for feeding paper or other sheets upon which printed matter is to beduplicated, if desired an auxiliary paper feeder 15, a mechanism notshown in FIG. I for delivering the masters successively to a mastercylinder 16, means not visible in FIG. I for ejecting each master afterthe requisite number of copies of that master has been impressed onsheets to be printed, and a collector or sheet distributor 17 having aplurality of bins or pockets 118 into which printed paper copies may besegregated. There are also a blanket cylinder 16a and an impressioncylinder 16b, the paper being fed between the latter two cylinders. Suchmachines have also heretofore been provided with mechanical counterswhich may be set by the operator to cause a predetermined number ofimpressions to be made from the master and distributed to thedistributor 17 in successive pockets. Such machines operateautomatically, according to predetermined cycle which include the stepsof feeding a master, treating and inking the master, feeding copy paper,stopping the copy paper feed on count down, ejecting the master, andcleaning a blanket which transfers the impression to the paper. Theforegoing as thus far described in connection with FIG. I isconventional and does not constitute a part of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, however, among other featuresin an illustrative embodiment specially prepared masters are employed.These specially prepared masters differ from those heretofore employedin that they contain not only the writing, drawing and so forth whichare to be reproduced on the paper copies but also indicia cooperatingwith the computer equipment provided in accordance with the invention tocontrol the operation of the duplicator FIG. I, including the number ofcopies made from each master and the manner in which the copies aresorted in the sorting bins or pockets of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, there is a master 19, the central portion ofwhich is left blank and is this is where the usual message to beduplicated is written or drawn. However, in accordance with theinvention, the master I9 is provided with one or two rows of boxes orspaces 20 and 21 in which indicia in the form of coded markings areplaced for effecting the operation of the circuits to control theduplicator. As illustrated, there is one row of spaces 20 along the endand another row 21 along the side so that either end or side scanningmay be employed. For example, there may be spaces 22, 23, and 24 whichmay be employed for various control markings such as markings toindicate last of the set, if desired. Then there may be a set of sevenspaces 25, to permit applying a seven bit binary code for controlling afirst counter and a similar set of spaces 26 for applying a code tocontrol a second counter. There are electronic counters provided inaccordance with the invention, replacing the mechanical countersheretofore employed, and making it possible for each master to determinethe number of copies of that master which will be made independently ofthe number of copies made of any other master in the hopper. In additionto spaces for the foregoing markings, spaces such as 27 are provided inthe row 21 or 20 for digital code markings, for instance five-bitmarkings for controlling distribution to successive pockets, forexample, the first 2 of the pockets R8 of the distributor 17 of FIG. l.The spaces 27 are followed by additional spaces 28 which may be used forother control purposes, for example a general program selection controlfor selecting any one of several distribution programs already preparedon punched tape and each associated with its own tape read head.

For use with conventional duplicators the masters are specially preparedsheets. However, in equipment for automatically copying or duplicatingoriginal copy such as clippings or pages from publications the codingwhich is selectable for operation by entering an appropriate binarydesignation in the spaces 22 to 28, may be marked directly on eachoriginal copy or on paste-on sheets, and the original material thenserves as the master. It may be fed into the copier or duplicator byappropriate mechanism or first automatically photographed to form asecondary master to be received by the master cylinder I6 ofaduplicator.

A scanner 29 is provided including an element which travels along therows 20 or 211 and reads the information markings for supplying theirdata to storage and control circuits. However, in the arrangement shown,in order to enable the storage and control circuits to assign to thecoded information the correct interpretation, clock impulses are alsorequired. These may be provided by clock marks on the master 19 asillustrated in FIG. 3 or the scanner itself may be arranged to produceclock signals.

A form of scanner which may be employed is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5having a supporting housing 31 which may be secured to one or both ofthe sidewalls or master sheet guides 32 of the master hopper 13 ineither of two alternative positions by suitable conventional mountingmeans, not shown. The position for side reading of the master encodedinformation is illustrated in FIG. 4 and the position for end reading isillustrated in FIG. 5. It will be understood that the surroundingstructure shown in FIG. 5 would be present in the FIG. 4 arrangementalso, but has been deleted to avoid redundancy. Within the housing 31 isa screw 33 driven by a motor concealed in an enclosure 34 for traversinga reading head 35, which contains a lamp for illuminating the edge ofthe master and photoelectric responsive reading elements in the form ofscanner illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. If the form of the masterillustrated in FIG. 3 is employed, the photoresponsive reading head is adual head adapted for reading markings on each of two rows 36 and 37,one the information row, the other the clock counting row.

If the type of master is employed which is illustrated in FIG. 2, thescanner shaft 33 is provided with means for producing clock counterimpulses at the same rate as the rate of rotations of the shaft 33. Suchsynchronized pulse producers are conventional and do not constitute apart of the present invention and need therefore not be illustratedherein. Examples of shaft-rotation-responsive pulse generators forproducing electrical impulses in response to movement of a magnet ormagnetizable member carried by a shaft are found in U.S. No. 3,301,053to Walch et a1. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,969 to I-Iardy.

The block diagram of FIG. 6 illustrates the general arrangement of theapparatus responsive to coded information on the master with the clocksignals, and the storage and control circuits for responding to theinformation to control the number of copies made of each master and tocontrol the distribution or sorting of the copies. Where the clock marksare provided on the master as in FIG. 3, the scanner reading head 35includes dual pick-ups 38 and 39 provided with amplifiers 41 and 42respectively. For the sake of illustration it has been assumed that thepick-ups 38 and 39 are of the photoelectric type in which the currentincreases and decreases according to whether the scanner sees the blankspace or a black mark in each information area of the master as the headtraverses the master. The invention is not limited to the use ofphotoelectric responsive scanners, however, and does not exclude the useof electrical impulse producing magnetic pick-ups in case magnetic marksare employed on the master or electrical feelers or other pick-ups incase punched holes are used on the master.

In case a master is of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 and the clocksignals are produced by rotation of the scanner shaft, the signals arefed to an amplifier 42, which takes the place of amplifier 42, from anelectrical pickup such as the coil 43, responsive to rotation of amagnet 44 carried by the scanner shaft 33 as illustrated in FIG. 6a.

A suitable counter 45 serving as a clock counter is connected to theoutput of the clock pulse amplifier 42 or 42. For synchronizing andindicating the significance of the output signals from the data scannerpickup 38, an AND gate circuit 46 is provided to which the outputs ofthe clock counter 45 and the data scanner amplifier 41 are supplied. Inorder that the data output of one master may be processed while thepreceding master is being reproduced a data storage device or memory 17is provided which receives the output of the AND gate circuit 46.

First and second feeder controls 48 and 49 are provided for theconventional paper feeders 14 and 15 in the duplicator 51. In the formof circuitry illustrated by way of example, subtracting counters 52 and53 are provided for actuating the feeder controls 48 and 49 when thedesired number of copies stored in the memory 47 has been produced. Thesubtracting counters 52 and 53 are responsive to the output of AND gatecircuits 54 and 55 respectively, each having input from the storage 47through lines 56 and 57, respectively, and an input from a counteraccept line 58.

The storage also has an output line 59 to a distributor. Provision ismade for erasing the information in the storage 47 when this informationhas been utilized for actuating the counters 52 and 53. As illustratedin FIG. 6 schematically, it takes the form of a line 62 from the counteraccept line 58 through a delay device 65 to a line 66 to storage erasecircuits. The subtracting counter arrangement is indicated in greaterdetail in the logic diagram of FIG. 7. The logic diagram for thescanning and clocking device is shown in FIG. 9 or 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates the type of circuit which may be employed for theclock counter, the storage, and the subtracting counters for the feedersand the distribution pockets. As shown, there is a plurality ofelectronic valves 67 which may be of the solid state transistor type incascaded, cross-coupled pairs to form successive bistable circuits, eachbistable circuit or pair of transistors being capable of being shiftedfrom one bistable state to the other by output from the previous stageor pair of transistors. Suitable cross-coupling elements includingresistors 68, capacitors 69 and diodes 71 are employed. The transistors67 are shown as PNP by way of example. Power is supplied through anegative terminal 1, which may by way of example be 15 volts. An overbias terminal 2 is provided. Input counting signals are supplied at aterminal 3 to either side of the first stage, and output signals ofsuccessive digital orders are taken at terminals 4, 6, 8, and 10. Thereis a grounded or O-volt terminal 5 and positive bias is supplied at aterminal 7, for example at 9 volts. A terminal 9 is provided for resetsignals to restore all stages in parallel to zero position. Thefunctioning of the circuit of FIG. 8 as counting device is illustratedin a logic diagram of FIG. 8a. In the interests of space economy, thecircuit of FIG. 8 and *a is shown as having a four bit capacity. It willbe understood, however, that it may be extended to embrace as many bitsas required for the particular application.

FIG. 7 is a logic diagram illustrating the arrangement of elements inthe subtracting paper counters, such as the counters 52 and 53, whichare shown as being of the binary type, and which are used in place ofthe mechanical or electrical counters usually found on such duplicators.In the arrangement illustrated, the first counter 52 is a seven-bitbinary counter and the counter 53 is a six-bit binary counter, eachhaving both a serial input and a parallel input. In serial input lines72 and 73, outputs from AND gate 54a and 55a are received, which haveinputs from enabling signal lines 74 and 75 which are energized by therelays which cause paper to feed from the feeders, and from a signalgenerator which acts each time a sheet is fed from the feeder. Outputterminals from the storage devices are connected to the respectiveparallel input lines for the first and second subtracting countersrepresented schematically by the cable bundles 76 and 77. The outputsfrom the counters 52 and 53 are supplied through AND gates 78 and 79 tocontrol lines 81 and 82 for controlling the first and second feeders.

FIG. 9 is a logic diagram illustrating the arrangement of the scanningand clocking device when the clock pulses are obtained from the rotationof the scanner shaft 33 by a magnetic pulse generator 43. The clockcounter 45 has its input terminal 3 connected to the output of an ANDgate 88 one of whose inputs is the output of the amplifier 42' of theclock signal pulse generator 43, the other inputs being the output of aclock inhibitor 83 via an output line 87, and a scanner return travelinhibit line 84 (See FIG. 11) which likewise supplies an AND gate 90whose other input is derived from the data scanner amplifier 41 andwhose output is the data pulse line 92. The clock counter 45 also has aparallel reset line 85 connected to its parallel reset terminal 9.

The clock inhibitor 83 has a signal input terminal 89 receiving theoutput of the data scanner amplifier 41, and has a reset terminal 91,the latter supplied from the reset line 85. The output signal terminalsof the clock counter 45 are connected through a fragmentarilyrepresented logic circuit 46 to parallel input terminals in the memorystages of the storage 47.

FIG. 10 illustrates a logic diagram corresponding to FIG. 9 except foran arrangement in which clock marks are provided on the master, and theclock mark scanner pickup 39 is employed. In this case the clockinhibitor 83 is not required since the clock marks on the master are notcontinued beyond the number required for synchronizing the code marks inthe information line of the master.

The arrangement for producing data signals or clock mark signals whenthe clock marks are placed on the master in the case of a photoelectrictype of scanner is illustrated in FIG. 12. There is a lamp (not shown)for projecting a beam of light on the data spaces in the master througha suitable optical lens system (not shown), and a photoelectric responsedevice such as a selenium cell 98 for example, which has relatively lowresistance, for example 300 kilohms, when the light is reflected upon itbut increases to a relatively high resistance value, for example 20megohms, when the beam of light reaches the dark mark on the master sothat relatively little light is reflected to the photoelectric device98. The photoresponsive device 98 is connected in series with a resistor99 having a resistance comparable with that of the photoelectric device98 when it is dark, for example of the order of 10 megohms.

The elements 98 and 99 are connected in series across a power supplyhaving terminals 101 and 102 which may for example be at +9 volts and 15volts with a grounded or zerovolt terminal 103. Two amplifier stages areprovided including solid state devices such as NPN transistors 104 and105 connected between power supply terminals 102 and 103 and having loadresistors 106 and 107 respectively. The transistor 104 has a base 108connected to a junction terminal 109 of the photoelectric responsedevice 98 and the resistor 99 and the transistor 105 has a base 111connected to the collector terminal 112 of the transistor 104, which isin turn slightly positively biased through a resistor 113 connected tothe positive bias terminal 101. The collector terminal 114 serves as thesignal output terminal of the amplifier. When the photoelectric responsedevice 98 is darkened upon scanning a black mark on the master itsresistance rises, causing potential of the junction terminal 109 and thetransistor base 108 to rise thus cutting off the flow of current in thetransistor 104, permitting the potential of the terminal 112 to fallfrom approximately 0 volts to very nearly the potential of the negativeterminal 102. This lowers the potential of the base 111 of thetransistor 105 causing it to become conducting. Current then flowsthrough the load resistor 107 raising the potential of the signal outputterminal 114. In this manner a positive voltage pulse is supplied by theamplifier whenever a code mark is scanned. It will be understood thatthe scanner and amplifier shown in FIG. 12 represents a circuit usableas the scanner and amplifier 38, 41 of FIGS. 9 and 10 or 39, 42 of FIG.10.

The feeding of paper in a duplicator 51 such as that illustrated in FIG.1 is caused by conventional means controlled by a relay. Such a control,specifically the control 48, is represented in FIG. 13 by a relaywinding 115 operating contacts which perform conventional functions insuch apparatus. However, in accordance with the present invention,circuit devices such as hereinbefore described are employed for thecontrol of the feeder relay winding 115 as illustrated in FIG. 13. Eachcontrol relay is actuated by the output of one of the subtractingcounters through a diode gate and amplifier means.

An amplifier 117, shown as being of the solid state PNP transistor type,is provided which is connected in series with the feeder relay winding115 and a direct current power supply circuit having positive terminal118 represented as being grounded or at volts and a negative terminal1119 represented as being l volts. The transistor 117 has a base 121supplied by the outputs of the stages of the subtracting counter 52 or53 through diode AND gate 78 (or 79) and normally closed contacts 115aof the feeder relay which are associated with and driven by the winding115. As shown, the base 121 is positively biased by the AND gate 78 sothat the transistor 117 and the winding 115 normally do not conductcurrent. The winding 115 is not energized while the subtracting counteris waiting to be satisfied. When the counter is satisfied, all thediodes of the AND gate 78 go negative and the transistor 117 conducts.This energizes the winding 115 and causes the associated normally closedcontacts 115a to open, allowing the base 121 to be held negative by thebias resistor 123 connected to the negative terminal 119. A resetterminal 124 is provided which is connected to the base 121 forresetting the transistor to nonconducting condition when a positivepulse is supplied at the terminal 124.

A suitable amplifier for the counting pulse received from a magneticinduction-type clock pulse generator 43 is illustrated in FIG. 14. Itincludes a pair of amplifier stages such as PNP transistors 125 and 126connected across a direct-current power supply source having a O-voltageterminal 127 and a negative voltage terminal 128. The stages areconnected as collector follower stages with collectors resistors 131 and132. A signal output terminal 134 is connected to the collector of thetransistor 126.

The input circuit of the transistor 125 includes a resistor 126positively biasing the transistor 126, and a resistor 137, a capacitor138 and the pulse generator 43 series connected between the base ofatransistor 125 and the negative terminal 128. The generator 43 isshunted by a rectifier or diode 139, poled so that only positive pulsesfrom the generator 43 are supplied to the transistor 125. The circuit ofFIG. 14 represents in more detail the pulse generator amplifiercombination 43, 42 of FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. the clock inhibitor 83 is a bistable circuitwhich may comprise a pair of solid state devices such as PNP transistors141 and 142 connected to a grounded or 0- volt power supply terminal 143and negative power supply terminal 144, for example at l 5 volts,through collector resistor 145 and 146 and cross coupled throughresistors 147 and 148 shunted by capacitors 149 and 150 of high capacitysuch as one-tenth microfarad. The bases of transistors 141 and 142 arepreferably positively biased through resistors 152 and 153. Signal inputis provided through the terminal 89 from the data scanner amplifier 41to the base of transistor 141 through a resistance-capacity circuit 154.The external reset line 91 is coupled to the base of the transistor 142through a resistancecapacity circuit 155.

The arrangement of the storage device 47 is illustrated by the logicdiagram of FIG. 16 representing the connections of the binary unitsemployed. Registers or groups of storage stages 156 and 157 are providedfor storing the data concerning the number of sheets to be duplicatedfrom each of the two copy sheet hoppers, and are caused to dischargetheir data into the subtracting counters 52 and 53 via lines 76 and 77upon reception of a counter accept signal via counter accept line 58.Such a signal triggers the AND gate circuits 54 and 55 (fragmentarilyillustrated) at the appropriate time to cause transfer of the storeddata. The counter accept line 58 is also connected through a line 62 andthrough a delay device 65 to a line 66 for supplying a storage eraseimpulse to the storage after the subtracting counters have emptied.

In order that the desired number of copies will be placed in each of thepockets 18 of the distributor 17, the storage 47 also includes registers170 and 171 for the first group of pockets. For simplicity in thedrawing only two such pockets counters are shown, although there may bea greater number. For distribution in excess of such a predeterminednumber of pockets, an additional general distribution program register172 is provided and instruction tapes, which may be punched tapes ormagnetic tapes, are provided containing the instructions for any desiredadditional number of pockets together with suitable tape reader anddistributor control thereby. The general distribution program register172 is arranged to select by code number and activate the reader forwhichever one of such tapes is desired. While not illustrated in thisview, it will be understood that suitable analogous counter acceptcircuitry including appropriate AND gate circuits similarly related tothe storage stages 170, 171, 172, and similar storage erase provisions,will be provided on the distributor frame and will be suitably timed andtriggered on the basis of the chosen pattern of distributor functions.The counter accept signals in either case will be drawn from anysuitable machine function occurring at the appropriate time fortransfer, such as the signal for ejecting a master from the mastercylinder in the case of line 58, and the signal which indicatescompletion of the previous count or program in the case of thedistributor apparatus.

The master 19 illustrated in FIG. 3 for use with the clock marks on themaster is shown blank. It will be understood, however, that if desiredthe masters may be pre-printed with the black marks in every space ofthe clock track 3 7 for the number of spaces utilized in the informationtrack 36. The masters may be produced in any desired manner. Foeexample, blanks printed in manner illustrated by FIGS. 2 or 3 may beprovided with the rectangles delineating space for signal marks alreadyprinted on the blanks. Then whatever message is to be duplicated istyped, written or drawn on the blank. If clock marks have not alreadybeen pre-printed in the spaces 27 these are marked in with black pencilor black crayon and suitable markings for the digital code representingthe desired information in the spaces 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28,referring to FIG. 2, (or their corresponding spaces in FIG. 3) aremarked in which black pencil or crayon. Then the filled in sheet forms acompleted master and is utilized to produce copies on a duplicator ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 1.

If desired a projector 173, FIG. 17 may be utilized with suitable lenssystem 174 for projecting an image from a typed or written sheet 175 ona photosensitive master 19" which is subsequently developed in the usualmanner. If it is desired to use an original sheet not preprinted withthe spaces for code markings, a separate blank 176 with the codemarkings may be placed in a separate projector 177 and projected alongedges 20 and 21 of the photosensitive master at a location which liesbeyond the normal typed or printed page on which the message normallyappears.

Instead of printers 173 and 177 there may be provided, if desired,printers of the cathode ray tube used in photo typesetting described byKlensch and Simshauser in The CRT in Photo Typesetting Systems IEEESpectrum, Volume 6, Number 9, pages 7580, September 1969. As anotheralternative, the masters may be output of computers in a high speed lineprinter which prints not only the text material but also the code andclock marks for the rows 36 or rows 36 and 37 on the margin of eachmaster.

Suitable means are provided for causing the scanner to make an excursionalong the edge tracks of the next exposed master at either the side orthe end, according toe the arrangement selected, whenever the top masteris removed from the hopper and placed in printing position with respectto the roll of the duplicator. Then the scanner is arranged to return atthe end of the scan so that the master which has been read may in turnbe transferred from the hopper to the printing position and the nextmaster code marks may be read, etc. Preferably a reversible drive motor178 is provided having a separate winding 179 for a forward movement andwinding 180 for reverse rotation to produce a return movement asillustrated in FIG. 11. Any desired type of reversible motor may beemployed.

The circuit of FIG. 11 can best be understood by considering that thecircuit means in the duplicator 51 provide, in a known manner, at anintermediate point in the previous printing cycle, whenever it is timeto feed a new master into ready position, a maintained alternatingvoltage on line 183 which may be considered a master feed signal, andthat lines 192 would normally carry the effect of this signal directlyto the master feed clutch. As soon as the mater being fed in response tothis signal will have progressed out of the hopper and into a certainposition approaching the cylinder, its presence will be sensed andcircuitry on the duplicator will terminate the master feed signal online 183. The circuit of FIG. 11, however, acts as a delay circuitsuperimposed upon this normal function, and so controls switching as toprevent forwarding of the master feed signal from line 183, whenreceived, until after the scanning of the master about to be fed hasbeen performed.

If alternating current is the supply source, the motor may be of thesingle-phase, split-phase condenser type having a condenser or capacitor182 interposed in the connections. The connections are shown onlyschematically in FIG. 11 since reversible motors are well known to thoseskilled in the art.

The motor 178 is connected in a circuit between line 183 which isenergized by the master feed signal and a return or common line 184which may be neutral or ground line. The forward winding 179 is normallyenergized when voltage appears on the line 183. There is then circuitfrom the line 183 through normally closed contacts 185a of a limitrelay, which has a winding 185, the motor winding 179 and the returnline 184. There is also a circuit from the line 183 through normallyclosed contacts 1850 of the limit relay 185 and a winding 187 of a scanrelay to the return line 184.

In addition there is also a potential connection from the line 183through normally open contacts 185b of the limit relay 185, contact B ofa double throw scan switch 186 which normally lies on its contact A, butsenses the home position of the scanner and shifts to its contact B inresponse to activation by the scanner head upon arrival thereat. Thisconnection further proceeds via line 190, the normally closed contacts1870 of the scan relay 187, the input or alternating-current terminalsof a full-wave rectifier 189 and back to the return line 184, but thiscircuit is open whenever voltage first appears on line 183 since therelay 185 is not energized and contacts l85b are normally open. Thedirect current output terminals 191 of the full-wave rectifier 189 areconnected through lines 192 to the winding of a conventional master feedcontrol clutch (not shown).

A normally open scan limit switch 181, in circuit between the line 183and the limit relay winding 185, is mounted at the end of the forwardtravel of the scanner, and when activated, energizes winding 185 to openthe contacts 185a and 185c and close the contacts 185b to start thereturn travel of the scanner. At this point, of course, the scan homeswitch 186 is unaffected by the scanner and therefore lies in normalposition on contact A completing the circuit to the return motor winding180. Since it is off of contact B the circuit to the rectifier and line192 is still incomplete. There are also relay contacts 185a which arenormally open, and which close when the limit relay winding 185 isenergized. Since they are in parallel with the scan limit switch 181they provide a holding circuit for maintaining energization of thereturn motor winding 180 even after the scanner carriage backs off thelimit switch 181.

When the carriage completes its return excursion it strikes the switch186 and moves it to contact B breaking its circuit and stopping themotor. Since limit relay 185 is still held in by its holding contacts185e, contacts 185b are closed and 1850 are opened, deenergizing scanrelay 187 allowing contacts 187a to close..There is now a circuit fromline 183 through switch 185b, switch 186 on contact B and switch 1870 tothe rectifier and line 192, causing the master to feed out of the hopperand into a position where it eliminates the voltage signal on line 183,thus causing relay winding 185 to drop out and restoring the circuit ofFIG. 11 to its initial state.

The limit relay winding 185 also has normally open contacts 185d in theinhibit clock counter return line 84 of FIGS. 9 and 10. The scan relaywinding 187 has normally open contacts 187b in the parallel reset line85.

In the apparatus illustrated the scanning is intended to be done withthe master in static condition. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, thescanning head 35 travels toward the lower .right hand comer (See FIGS. 2and 3) of the master in either of the two attitudes of the motor drivenlead screw 33. Then the head returns to await another signal to scan.

The track markings containing the infonnation blocks may be printed witha non-reproducing ink of low color contrast so that they will not beseen by the photoelectric responsive devices nor will they be printed.However, if it is desired that the clock and information marks be in thesame medium as the printed image, the clock and information tracks canbe located in the margin of a master that is larger than the printedcopy so that the marks will be beyond the edge of the copy.

As illustrated, in FIG. 2, the information field is made up of eightitems of information. The first three and the last two deal with theduplicator proper and the remainder deal with the distributor. Thosedealing with the duplicator proper are the index block 22, the firsthopper" block 23 the last of set" block 24 (which represent anyparticular two duplicator functions which it is desired to control), thefirst feeder counter blocks 25, and the second feeder counter blocks 26.The two groups of blocks designated 27 are for distributing to the firsttwo distributor pockets, and the last group of blocks 28 are for theselection of an appropriate general distributor program.

In the alternate embodiment of the invention, represented by the masterof FIG. 3, there are two rows of track markings on each margin, one forinformation marks and one for clock marks, designated 36 and 37respectively. The clock marks in row 37 must appear one in each block,and they re counted serially in the binary manner by the clock counterillustrated in FIG. 10.

in the FIG. 2 embodiment the counting pulses are generated by rotationof the shaft 33 and are counted serially by the clock counterillustrated in FIG. 9.

The clock counting arrangements in the two forms are largely analogoushowever, so that the scanning operation will be described in detailmainly for the FIG. 2 form, from which the corresponding operation forthe FIG. 3 form will be readily apparent. In this embodiment there areno clock marks on the master nor is there a clock mark scanner. In anillustrative arrangement, the lead screw 33, the revolutions of whichare counted, has 10 turns to the inch and makes one revolution for eachof the information blocks which are spaced one-tenth inch apart. On theapproach to the information field, the clock counter is inhibited fromcounting by the clock inhibitor 83 shown in FIG. 15. The firstinformation block, the index block 22, requires a mark in every case.When the photoresponsive device sees a mark in this information block22, the inhibitor stage 83 flips over and enables the clock counter tomake use of the amplified magnetic pulse delivered to the gate 88 inFIG. 9.

At the end of its travel the lead screw driver motor is reversed and thescanning head is returned to its starting position. During the returntravel both the clock counter amplifier 42' and the information pickupamplifier 41 are inhibited from transmitting count signals to the clockcounter 45 and the storage 47.

Reverting momentarily to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 10, as thescanning head travels over the field, the clock counter 45 counts allthe spaces since each will contain a mark. When the data scanner 38 seesa mark at a particular block a yes signal combines with the clockcounter output, at that time, and a discreet AND gate which isassociated with that particular count value, such as gate 194, 194' or194", sends a signal into storage (FIGS. 10 and 16). Storage isnecessary because the subtracting counters are still in use, being nowoccupied in performing the function ordered by the previous master.While specific storage stages have not been illustrated for thefunctions represented by spaces 23 and 24 on the master track, it willbe readily understood that similar storage provision for these can bemade if required.

After the scan the duplicator completes its cycle and ejects the oldmaster and inserts the new one. The storage has in it the informationrelative to the new master that is being put on the cylinder. Since thesubtracting counters are through with counting for the old master, theycan now accept the informa-' tion for the current master out of storage.This is done by a counter accept signal from a set of contacts on aconventional sequence start relay (not shown) in the duplicator 51through line 58 and discreet AND gate circuits 54 and 55 (FIGS. 6 and16).

On this transfer, the complement of the desired count is put into thesubtracting counters 52 and 53 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Then, when the paper feeds begins, they need only to count to saturationand the function takes place. The relay or control 48 that causes paperto feed from the first feeder provides the enabling signal via AND gate54a to the first counter, and the relay 49 that causes paper to feedfrom the second feeder provides enabling signal via AND gate 55a to thesecond counter as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Before either of the counters count to saturation the zero levelvoltages come through the diode gate 78 of the subtracting counter asillustrated in FIG. 13. This view represents specifically the gatearrangement in connection with counter 52, but, except for the number ofbits, it is also representative of the gate associated with the counter53. All or any one bit of the subtracting counter can keep thetransistor 117 backward biased. When all the bits to go minus volts, thetransistor 117 is forward biased, pulls in the relay 115, opens thenormally closed contact 115a between gate 78 and the base 121 of thetransistor 117 and the transistor 117 is thereafter forward biased untilthe reset signal is applied to the base 121 from the line 124. The relaystops the feed of the as sociated feeder via one of its normally opencontacts IlSb (FIG. 13) which, upon closing, provide a feeder stopsignal to the conventional circuit (not shown) which governs feederoperation.

DISTRIBUTOR The first group of two pockets 18 of the distributor 117 arecounter controlled. The remainder of the distributor pockets, along withthe general distributor program, are tape controlled. There is a choiceon each master of a predetermined number of tape programs, for example31. The first two pockets counters in the illustrated apparatus areshown as having each a 31 sheet capacity. The voltages are retained inthe memory device for a period of time from when the master is scanneduntil the end of the duplicator cycle. At that time, the memory data istransferred to suitable subtracting counters in the distributor, similarto the previously described sheet feed counters (or in the case ofregister 172, to an appropriate tape selection circuit) and then thestorage is erased. This is effected by duplicator counter accept andstorage erase circuits corresponding to the circuits 58, 65 and 66 forthe feeder counters. Thus the memory of FIG. 16 can command the numberof sheets to be accepted by each of the first two distributor pockets(registers 170 and 171) and can command which of the 31 general programtapes to employ (register 172). The general distributor program tapewhich is thus selected controls the number of sheets that the remainderof the sorter pockets will accept.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operationembraced therein have been shown and particularly described for thepurpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention andshowing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that many modifications and variations are possible, and it isintended therefore, to cover all such modifications and variations asfall within the scope of the invention. It will be recognized, forexample, that although the preferred form shown involves reading thedata on a master in the hopper, or before it reaches the mastercylinder, this function can just as well be performed with the master onthe master cylinder during the printing operation, in which case theindicia on the master can be read directly and applied to the printingoperation of the current master without necessarily being held inmemory. In a particular example, a peripheral location of the indiciarelative to the home position of the master cylinder can be used toindicate the number of copies to be printed, and the signal derived fromthe sensing of this indicia directly on each revolution can be combinedwith information derived from a stepping operation occurring at the feedof each sheet. When the signal coincide a further signal would result,stopping the copy paper feed and/or shutting off the printing machine atthe number of copies represented by the indicia on the master margin.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reprographic device comprising:

means for reproducing an image from each master of a series of mastersupon each of a plurality of copy sheets, said means including mechanismsoperating to perform a plurality of subfunctions related to theaccomplishment of said reproducing function, said master being onehaving a control indicia pattern of data increments placed thereoncharacteristic of instructions for performance of at least one suchsubfunction;

reading means for sensing the control indicia pattern placed on themaster to indicate the performance of a predetermined subfunction by theappropriate mechanism said reading means embodying sensing and signalproducing means activated to produce signals upon the sensing of saidindicia pattern;

means responsive to signals produced by said signal producing means forregulating the operation of said appropriate mechanism to perform thesubfunction in accordance with the instructions contained in the controlindicia pattern;

the improvement comprising:

storage means for a master awaiting processing;

said reading means being associated with said master storage means andoperable to sense the control indicia on a master stored therein beforeprocessing of a previous master is complete;

signal storage means for storing the output of said signal producingmeans while the reproduction of copies from a previous master isproceeding;

and mean for calling forth the content of said signal storage means andapplying the same to the signal responsive means in response tocompletion of the copy reproduction of the previous master in the seriesand the device arriving in condition to reproduce the sensed master.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the master storage means isa hopper for holding a stack of masters and the reading means senses theindicia on the top master of the stack of masters in the hopper.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters are providedwith a control indicia track extending transversely of the direction ofmaster travel in exiting from the hopper, and the reading means ispowered to move parallel to the track while the master is stationary inthe hopper.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters are providedwith a control indicia track extending parallel to the direction ofmaster travel in exiting from the hopper and the reading means ispowered to move parallel to the track while the master is stationary inthe hopper.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters may be providedeither with a control indicia track extending parallel to ortransversely of the direction of master travel in exiting from thehopper, and the reading means is powered for linear travel and mountedupon a guide disposable parallel to either track depending upon the typeof master being processed.

6. In a reprographic device comprising:

means for reproducing an image from a master upon each of a plurality ofcopy sheets, said means including mechanisms operating to perform aplurality of subfunctions related to the accomplishment of saidreproducing function, said master being one having a control indiciapattern consisting of indicia units arranged in a linear track andcharacteristic of instructions for performance of at least one of suchsubfunctions;

reading means at a point adjacent one of the locations normally occupiedby each master on the device for sensing the control indicia patternplaced on the master to identify and call for performance of apredetermined subfunction by the appropriate mechanism, said readingmeans embodying sensing and signal producing means activated to producesignals upon the sensing of said indicia pattern;

means responsive to signals produced by said signal producing means forregulating the operation of said appropriate mechanism to perform thesubfunction in accordance with the instructions contained in the controlindicia pattern;

the improvement comprising:

said sensing and signal producing means embodying a single sensingdevice for sensing the control indicia, and producing signals inresponse thereto;

means for progressing the single sensing device and the master relativeto each other in such direction that the sensing device effectivelyproceeds lengthwise of the indicia unit track on the master andgenerates signals serially in response thereto;

means to store the signals received serially from said reading device aselectrical control information accessible in parallel.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which the signal storage means isa digital device having individual bistable storage stages correspondingeach to one of the indicia unit positions on the master indicia track,in which control means are also provided for directing the seriallyincoming indicia unit signals each to its corresponding storage stage,and which includes means for transferring in parallel the information incertain stages of the storage means to corresponding stages of autilization device.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which the control means fordirecting the incoming unit signals comprises a clock counter generatingcounting signals and an AND gate matrix jointly responsive toe the clockcounter signals and the input unit signals.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which there is also provided asecond sensing element for reading a clock track parallel to the controlindicia track with individual positions corresponding to the unitpositions on the indicia track, and generating signals for stepping theclock counter.

1. In a reprographic device comprising: means for reproducing an imagefrom each master of a series of masters upon each of a plurality of copysheets, said means including mechanisms operating to perform a pluralityof subfunctions related to the accomplishment of said reproducingfunction, said master being one having a control indicia pattern of dataincrements placed thereon characteristic of instructions for performanceof at least one such subfunction; reading means for sensing the controlindicia pattern placed on the master to indicate the performance of apredetermined subfunction by the appropriate mechanism said readingmeans embodying sensing and signal producing means activated to producesignals upon the sensing of said indicia pattern; means responsive tosignals produced by said signal producing means for regulating theoperation of said appropriate mechanism to perform the subfunction inaccordance with the instructions contained in the control indiciapattern; the improvement comprising: storage means for a master awaitingprocessing; said reading means being associated with said master storagemeans and operable to sense the control indicia on a master storedtherein before processing of a previous master is complete; signalstorage means for storing the output of said signal producing meanswhile the reproduction of copies from a previous master is proceeding;and mean for calling forth the content of said signal storage means andapplying the same to the signal responsive means in response tocompletion of the copy reproduction of the previous master in the seriesand the device arriving in condition to reproduce the sensed master. 2.A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the master storage means is ahopper for holding a stack of masters and the reading means senses theindicia on the top master of the stack of masters in the hopper.
 3. Adevice as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters are provided with acontrol indicia track extending transversely of the direction of mastertravel in exiting from the hopper, and the reading means is powered tomove parallel to the track while the master is stationary in the hopper.4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters are providedwith a control indicia track extending parallel to the direction ofmaster travel in exiting from the hopper and the reading means ispowered to move parallel to the track while the master is stationary inthe hopper.
 5. A devIce as set forth in claim 2 in which the masters maybe provided either with a control indicia track extending parallel to ortransversely of the direction of master travel in exiting from thehopper, and the reading means is powered for linear travel and mountedupon a guide disposable parallel to either track depending upon the typeof master being processed.
 6. In a reprographic device comprising: meansfor reproducing an image from a master upon each of a plurality of copysheets, said means including mechanisms operating to perform a pluralityof subfunctions related to the accomplishment of said reproducingfunction, said master being one having a control indicia patternconsisting of indicia units arranged in a linear track andcharacteristic of instructions for performance of at least one of suchsubfunctions; reading means at a point adjacent one of the locationsnormally occupied by each master on the device for sensing the controlindicia pattern placed on the master to identify and call forperformance of a predetermined subfunction by the appropriate mechanism,said reading means embodying sensing and signal producing meansactivated to produce signals upon the sensing of said indicia pattern;means responsive to signals produced by said signal producing means forregulating the operation of said appropriate mechanism to perform thesubfunction in accordance with the instructions contained in the controlindicia pattern; the improvement comprising: said sensing and signalproducing means embodying a single sensing device for sensing thecontrol indicia, and producing signals in response thereto; means forprogressing the single sensing device and the master relative to eachother in such direction that the sensing device effectively proceedslengthwise of the indicia unit track on the master and generates signalsserially in response thereto; means to store the signals receivedserially from said reading device as electrical control informationaccessible in parallel.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which thesignal storage means is a digital device having individual bistablestorage stages corresponding each to one of the indicia unit positionson the master indicia track, in which control means are also providedfor directing the serially incoming indicia unit signals each to itscorresponding storage stage, and which includes means for transferringin parallel the information in certain stages of the storage means tocorresponding stages of a utilization device.
 8. A device as set forthin claim 7 in which the control means for directing the incoming unitsignals comprises a clock counter generating counting signals and an ANDgate matrix jointly responsive toe the clock counter signals and theinput unit signals.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which thereis also provided a second sensing element for reading a clock trackparallel to the control indicia track with individual positionscorresponding to the unit positions on the indicia track, and generatingsignals for stepping the clock counter.